I'm wondering if anyone on this thread has taken advantage of the (relatively) recent changes to policy in Canada that state that disabled persons may have an attendant with them free of charge on domestic flights on Westjet and Air Canada.
Specifically, I'm wondering about the note I see on Westjet's info page that once deemed eligible, the person with a disability must ALWAYS have an attendant with them. I'm based out of yyj, so the one hour flight to my parents' place in Kelowna is totally doable alone. However, the 5+ hour flights to Eastern Canada get challenging (I'm a paraplegic - FAs freak right out when I request the aisle chair to attempt to get to the washroom).
In the past I've usually been traveling with at least one other person as part of a team, but I will be retiring in 2012. However, the statment about 'always' traveling with an attendant worries me. Will I be prevented from boarding a short domestic flight if I don't have someone with me? I still have all the same challenges (no ability to walk/ exit the aircraft in emergency/ access the washroom on my own).
I'm wondering if Air Canada has the same rule? I'm also wondering why airlines don't recognize the difference between a one hour flight where someone doesn't need the washroom and a 5 hour flight where I would need assistance twice. Does anyone have experience with this?
